Aqib: She's lecturer in a college. The
marriage will be some time next month.

Athar: I'm sure all of us will have a jolly
good time when he throws a big party on the happy occasion. We have to arrange a
grand reception in honor of his wedding.

Aqib: Sure, we'll see to it as soon as the
date for the wedding is fixed. I'm meeting Zahid today. We are to meet outside
his office at six in the evening.

Athar: But you are not to tell him anything
about the reception we are going to arrange. Let it be a surprise. I'm to meet
the dentist at 6 o'clock. Otherwise, I would join you.

Aqib: In fact, his family and mine were to
assemble in his house yesterday afternoon. We were to go on a conducted tour of Ezhimala and Pallikara. We were to visit the naval base being planned at
Ezhimala. Zahid being a contractor, he was to have a meeting with the architect
in charge of these centers. But the trip had to be called off because of the
heavy rain. Well, here we are. What're you buying?

Athar: Fish, meat and some vegetables.

Aqib: The same for me. Meat is Rs.190, seer
fish Rs.120 and prawns Rs.160. What shall I buy now? Fish is more expensive than
meat.

Athar: Quite so. It has always been like
that. But chicken is cheaper than mutton and so I always buy chicken.

Aqib: But beef is less expensive than chicken
and very often I buy beef.

Athar: Yes, yes, I know beef is cheaper than
chicken. But beef contains more fat and isn't good for people who suffer from
high blood pressure.

Aqib: Meat is not so expensive as fish. Fish
is the most expensive and its price range from Rs.100 to Rs.360 a kg. and we
can't afford to buy fish every day at this price.

Athar: That's because you always buy fish
like pomfret, prawns, lobster, etc. Fish like sardines, mackerel, silver belly,
mullet and cat fish are cheaper. They are the same time as nutritious as the
expensive ones. They may not be as tasty but sometimes you'll have to make them
do. If you go to the seashore, fish will be cheaper there than it is in the
market.

Aqib: You're right. Sometimes I go to the
seashore. I got a big pomfret yesterday for only Rs.280 per kg. from the beach. I
had a guest at home. We were to have fish for supper but by the time we came
back from the theater, the cat had eaten it all.

Athar: You had a guest at home?

Aqib: Yes, my cousin was with us. He was to
have flown to Lahore by the early morning fight but owing to poor visibility the
flight was postponed.

Athar: So he came back from the airport?

Aqiib: Yes. We were told the flight would
take off in the afternoon when the fog cleared. Oh, I forgot to tell you what
happened on our way back from the airport. We had a close shave. There would
have been a head-on collision with another car if I had not swerved my car to a
field near-by.

Athar: Oh, my goodness!

Aqib: It seems the driver of the other car
fell asleep. The car crashed into a tree and stooped. Luckily, nobody was hurt.

Athar: Cats are said to have nine lives and
you've still eight lift.

Aqib: If you were in my place, you wouldn't
joke. You know Suzuki Alto is said to be the lightest car on the road and the
impact would have crushed us to death.

Athar: Was the driver honest enough to
confess that he had fallen asleep?

Aqib: Yes, he was and such honest men are to
be admired. The driver could have put the blame on me. That's what the drivers
usually do.

Athar: You see our national highways are said
to have the highest number of accidents in the south.

Aqib: Courtesy is said to cost nothing. You
know, the driver came to us and apologized. It was an owner driven car.

Athar: You see this city is said to be the
center of crime and hooliganism. He could have easily got away with it.

Aqib: Thank God my cousin and I have escaped
unhurt. So has the other car driver.`

Athar: it is terribly hot and I am
sweating.
I was to have taken a bath before I left home as usual, but there was no power
supply and there was no hot water. Anyway, what were we talking about? Yes,
fish. I think fish is better than meat.

Aqib: Fish is less harmful than meat as it
doesn't contain so much fat as meat.

Athar: Now many people are becoming
vegetarians and vegetarians food is becoming more popular.

Aqib: But it is very difficult to change our
food habits. Vegetarian food is also cheaper and at the same time better for
health.

Athar: Nowadays vegetables are also
expensive.

Aqib: They are becoming more and more
expensive but not as expensive as fish or meat. Now that we've bought fish and
meat, let's buy some vegetables and fruit.

Athar: Look at the price list. These
vegetables were not so expensive about a year ago. If only they could be
cultivated in our city, they would be cheaper.

Aqib: Yes, tha's right. They are more
expensive because most of them from outside the city.

Athar: Onion is more expensive than any other
vegetables.

Aqib: Look at the price of drum sticks. They
are more expensive than onions.

But they are not so essential as
onions. You can't cook without onions, can you? But you can manage without drum
sticks.

Aqib: How much are these grapes?

Shopkeeper: They are 120 rupees a kilo.

Aqib: Are they as expensive as apples?

Shopkeeper: Yes, both apples and grapes cost
the same price. Last week apples were not so cheap as grapes. But the price of
apples has come down and they are as cheap as grapes.

Aqib: How about oranges?

Shopkeeper: They are less expensive
than apples are oranges. These big ones cost on Rs.80 a dozen and these small ones
Rs.60. They are less expensive than any other fruit.

Athar: Now it is the season of oranges and
they are the cheapest. Anyway, please give me mangoes on kg. and orange one
dozen.

Aqib: The same for me.

Athar: can you carry all these?

Aqib: These bags are too heavy to carry. I
think I'll go by bus. I've to go a long way and so bus is cheaper than auto.

Athar: You're right. My house is only a short
walk from here. See you at the club in the evening.

Aqib: What time are we to be there for the
meeting?

Athar: We are to be there at 8 o'clock.
Anyway you're to be there any latter than 8.15, when the election of office
bearers takes place. I'm to go with my cousin to the airport in the afternoon.
I'll try my best to be back for the meeting. I hope I'll make it.

Aqib: So long!

Hawker: Sir, would you like to buy a cutlass?
I have very good ones for sale.

Athar: How much do you want for this?

Hawker: This is made of high temper steel.
Look at this one, not so good. But this one is special quality steel, as
you can see it. I'll give it to you for ninety rupees.

Athar: Ninety rupees for a cutlass! Is it
made of gold? It's too pricey.

Hawker: But it's worth one hundred.

Athar: Hey, young man, this is not the first
time I'm buying about quality, I know that it is. Look at the handle. I don't
think it is worth ninety. I'll give you sixty.

Hawker: Sixty? Are you joking? Come on! I'll
tell you what. I'll take eighty. Since I know you, you can have it for eighty.
I'll knock ten rupees off the price.